When I watched the movie The Right Stuff (1983) it opened my mind to space exploration, our project based learning project is designed to open the students mind to the planets in our solar system.
This project will create an understanding of the planets, what it takes to land on different planets, designing of space space crafts and presenting the final project to the whole class in a Powerpoint presentation or a video.
Project Description:
Step 1: Assign each student a group, have the groups assign the following roles:
Mission Control Manager
Planet Researcher
Craft Designer
Presentation Manager
Step 2: Assign each group a planet in the solar system.
Step 3: Using NASA’s website learn more about the planet
Step 4: Using NASA’s website learn about other space craft that have already been designed by NASA and watch a video in class about the Mars explorer
Step 5: The groups design a space craft that will land on their planet and recover an object and return it to the earth
Step 6: Each group will create a Powerpoint presentation or a video presenting the information the group found about their planet and how that affected their design of their space ship.
Step 7: Each group will present the Powerpoint presentation or video to the class
Product Outcome:
Students will present their findings from their time researching to the class in their groups of four or five. They will show the class their construction of the space craft that they have designed to land on their assigned planet and they will also present the information that they found through research on their planet. This information will include the environment of the planet (atmosphere, terrain), what their plan of action is in order to successfully land on the planet and finally, why they made their space ship the way they did. Students will have the option of presenting their findings and conclusions in either a power-point presentation or video presentation (in addition to their explanation of the drawings of their space craft).
Standards Met:
Below is the attachment in PDF of the standards for our PBL project:
How can we as scientists benefit from exploring each planet in our solar system and learning more about each planet's environment?
Technology Integration:
Students will use computers and the internet to research information on the planet to which they are assigned. Once they have compiled this information they will use technology to present their information to the class either using computers for a power-point presentation or using video technology for a video presentation.
"The Right Stuff" Project Based Learning Project:
This project will create an understanding of the planets, what it takes to land on different planets, designing of space space crafts and presenting the final project to the whole class in a Powerpoint presentation or a video.
Project Description:
Step 1: Assign each student a group, have the groups assign the following roles:
Step 2: Assign each group a planet in the solar system.
Step 3: Using NASA’s website learn more about the planet
Step 4: Using NASA’s website learn about other space craft that have already been designed by NASA and watch a video in class about the Mars explorer
Step 5: The groups design a space craft that will land on their planet and recover an object and return it to the earth
Step 6: Each group will create a Powerpoint presentation or a video presenting the information the group found about their planet and how that affected their design of their space ship.
Step 7: Each group will present the Powerpoint presentation or video to the class
Product Outcome:
Students will present their findings from their time researching to the class in their groups of four or five. They will show the class their construction of the space craft that they have designed to land on their assigned planet and they will also present the information that they found through research on their planet. This information will include the environment of the planet (atmosphere, terrain), what their plan of action is in order to successfully land on the planet and finally, why they made their space ship the way they did. Students will have the option of presenting their findings and conclusions in either a power-point presentation or video presentation (in addition to their explanation of the drawings of their space craft).Standards Met:
Below is the attachment in PDF of the standards for our PBL project:Driving Question:
How can we as scientists benefit from exploring each planet in our solar system and learning more about each planet's environment?Technology Integration:
Students will use computers and the internet to research information on the planet to which they are assigned. Once they have compiled this information they will use technology to present their information to the class either using computers for a power-point presentation or using video technology for a video presentation.
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